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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>BENJAMIN H. HODGSON</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>No. 2356 · Class of 1870</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Died June 25, 1876, at Little Big Horn, M. T., aged 28 years.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Interred at highest mound of the bluff at the Little Big Horn battlefield.</strong></p>
<p>Lieutenant Benjamin H. Hodgson was born in Philadelphia on the 30th of June 1848, the son of Mr. Joseph B. Hodgson, a gentleman widely known as intimately connected with the advancement of the commercial interests of that city. The effect of the war on his latter school days was to induce martial aspirations, which culminated with his appointment as a cadet and his entering the Military Academy at the beginning of his eighteenth year. Graduating in 1870, he was assigned to the Seventh Cavalry, then stationed in Kansas and Colorado. In 1871 and 1872 the regiment served in North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, on what was known as Ku-Klux duty. Here Lieutenant Hodgson displayed such energy and tact, and so satisfactorily performed his duty, exercising such an appreciative understanding of the requirements of the General Government, that he was selected for other similar and more exacting service in Louisiana.</p>
<p>In 1873 the battle of the Big Horn, which took place on the Yellow Stone Expedition of that year, gave him an opportunity of demonstrating his ability and establishing his worth as a cavalry officer, in the more dangerous callings of his profession.</p>
<p>While en route for his home on leave of absence in 1874, he was stopped by a telegram and ordered to join his troop, which had meantime come into his immediate command, and which had been ordered to Louisiana to quell local disturbances in that State. That the confidence of his superiors was not misplaced, the subsequent personally expressed approbation of the Lieutenant-General of the Army emphatically testified.</p>
<p>In the spring of 1874 he was in command of his troop on the Black Hills Expedition, and, with the exception of a leave of absence in the summer of 1875, constantly with the regiment until his death.</p>
<p>At the battle of the Little Big Horn he was aid to Colonel Reno, first slightly wounded in the side, afterwards instantly killed by a second bullet. He fell at the foot of the bluff which was being occupied, and was afterwards held by the survivors of the regiment. His body therefore lay under cover of their fire, and escaped the barbarous mutilation invariably inflicted on a fallen foe. They buried him in the highest mound of the bluff, and transplanted a cedar to mark his resting place. God bless him! Thus is his official career briefly outlined, but it remains to be told that never a young officer promised greater honor to his profession; never a gentleman more ennobled humanity; never a friend tendered more generous or sympathetic regard; never a companion more successfully charmed his comrades. His intelligent attention to delicate and difficult duties, his careful observance of routine requirements, his energy and dash, merited him the constant details for extraordinary service which were assigned to him. His kindness and courtesy were by nature, not habit; his keen wit was never barbed to pain; his spirits always cheerful; his generosity phenomenal. He made himself wherever he went one of the most popular men of the service. To his nearest friends he was as a son or a brother; to his warmest, most enthusiastic admirers the little ones always "Uncle Ben." He loved him most who knew him best.</p>
<p>* * * "he the prize hath won; Earth's conflict 'er, its warfare done, He entered fame's bright portal! And o'er the ford beyond the strife, Above the stream of earthly life, He's gained the life immortal!"</p>
<p style="text-align: right;">� R. N. Price</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://usmalibrary.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/aogreunion/id/7828">Annual Report, June 14, 1877, pp. 20�22 · U.S. Military Academy Library</a></p>
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